Sex abuse allegation against deceased Pittsburgh Central Catholic teacher

A new abuse accusation has surfaced in the ongoing scandal involving the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, the latest involving a priest who died in 2004.

The allegation against the Rev. John O’Brien dates back to the mid-1960s, according to an alert from the diocese. At the time, O’Brien was a Christian Brother teaching at Central Catholic High School under the religious name Brother Firmilian John, FSC.

Diocese officials said this is the first allegation the diocese of Christian Brothers have received against O’Brien. He was ordained as a priest of the diocese in 1975.

The alert indicated that alumni of Central Catholic and those from the parishes where O’Brien served are being notified of the allegation, which has also been reported to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

In August, a statewide grand jury report cited rampant child sex abuse by clergy members and cover-ups by church officials stretching back decades in diocese across Pennsylvania. The report named 99 priests in the Pittsburgh diocese and 20 in the Diocese of Greensburg.

A full list of O’Brien’s assignments in the diocese was not immediately available.

Victims may report abuse to the state abuse hotline set up following the grand jury report at 1-800-932-0313. They can also contact the Diocesan Assistance Coordinator at 1-888-808-1235.